I particularly like your thoughts on doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. I would add that following though with commitments, is a part of that, too.
A few years back, I built a straw bale home for a client. It was an experimental design, involving a timber frame structure, with bales as the insulative in-fill wall. The project ended up going over budget and significantly over our time-lines.
I had committed myself to complete the home for my clients and to learn some new building techniques. Money was running short and frustrations were mounting. It was difficult to stay positive, but something inside me kept me going.
I am a builder with integrity and when commit to a project, I see it through.... no matter what.
In the end, we managed to finish their home, even though I was working for free the last month. It was hard yes, but I walked away with my integrity intact and some lessons learned. Had I not completed the project, the cost in personal terms, would have been unbearable.
Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but the rewards last a lifetime.